Double Junk - 16

Chapter 16

“Hmm?”

Seokju, who had been standing at a distance, quickly responded. He approached Ajin with the sound of his footsteps on the wooden floor.

As Ajin flicked the mop in the opposite direction, he asked again, “I’m talking about the apples. There were apples in the sokuri. Is that what the master intended? Since it’s an apology, should I apologize with apples?”

With Ajin’s kind explanation, Seokju finally understood. It seemed that Ajin had finally discovered the sokuri.

Seokju sat down beside Ajin. The wide duraegi, neatly spread over the freshly cleaned wooden floor, made a broad backdrop. He stared silently at Ajin’s profile and said, “Myungjin taught me.”

Upon hearing this, Ajin dropped the mop as if to say, “Ah, I see,” and brushed his bangs away with the back of his hand. Seokju continued, “Summer apples… they’re not even good. We buy them only when we have to, like for ancestral rites in noble houses. Why spend so much money on buying apples? Apples should be eaten when the weather has cooled a bit, to enjoy their sweetness and crispness.”

“….”

“If you’re going to spend money, why not buy peaches?”

“That doesn’t mean I bought them to give you good fruit…”

“Is that so? Should I have left them and used them for a memorial service? Told the master to leave early?”

“No… it’s not that…”

Seokju scratched his throat with his index finger. He felt wronged, but Ajin’s words were not entirely wrong, so he couldn’t retort. Well, if he was going to spend money, he should have bought sweet and delicious fruits instead. Like bananas or oranges that are found across the sea.

“Sorry.”

Seokju apologized. As he did so, he imagined himself kicking Myungjin. He must be making jokes like, “Do you give apples when apologizing?” and laughing. It was nonsense.

Ajin, who appeared somewhat sullen, mumbled, “Well, I shared them with the kitchen staff. They didn’t taste as good as the expensive ones, but they were still edible…”

“I’ll buy you sweet and delicious fruits next time.”

“Why did the master buy fruits for me? I wanted to ask, but I chose to remain silent. Well, if he’s buying, I shouldn’t refuse. I said it properly this time, so I didn’t know he would buy such expensive fruits. It’s like fruits from the West. Even if you have the money, you can’t find them.”

Ajin swallowed the saliva that had seeped between his teeth. He resumed scrubbing the floor with the mop. Seokju sat down on the floor and watched Ajin. He even chewed on his cigarette and grunted from time to time.

Ajin glanced at him, as if to ask, “Why did the master buy fruits for me?” but he chose to remain silent. Well, if he’s buying, I shouldn’t refuse. I said it properly this time, so I didn’t know he would buy such expensive fruits. It’s like fruits from the West. Even if you have the money, you can’t find them.

Ajin swallowed the saliva that had seeped between his teeth. He resumed scrubbing the floor with the mop. Seokju sat down on the floor and watched Ajin. He even chewed on his cigarette and grunted from time to time.

Ajin glanced at him, as if to ask, “Why did the master buy fruits for me?” but he chose to remain silent. He was busy doing his job.

As he was about to finish and go to the kitchen to help with the stove next to the florist, he suddenly felt his ankle warming up.

Seokju had grabbed Ajin’s ankle. In this hot summer, the exposed bony ankle had been bothering him since a while ago, as if it were shivering alone in the cold.

In truth, it looked cool, and he wanted to touch it. He wanted to bury and move his own warmth that was difficult to express. Ajin taking all of his warmth was fine, or having his warmth seep into Ajin seemed fine.

Seokju’s eyes twinkled brightly, and startled, Ajin flailed his leg.

“What are you…”

Before Ajin could finish his sentence, Seokju pulled him closer. With a powerful force, like a nighthawk. Ajin, dragged along on the slippery floor, opened his eyes wide, gasping for breath.

Then Seokju smiled, wrapping his hand around Ajin’s ankle and foot. It was like a mother in a cold winter, using both hands to hold the bare feet of a child and warm them up.

“Your feet are cold.”

“….”

Ajin looked at Seokju’s hand that had grasped his ankle, which was not particularly dirty. He couldn’t understand why he was grinning and fiddling with it.

The palm that encased the sole of the foot and the fingers massaging the arch of the foot were firm and warm. It was ticklish, but for some reason, he didn’t want Seokju to let go. Ajin bit his lower lip.

Seokju held Ajin’s foot until it warmed up. Then, he subtly massaged his calf and asked, “Is there something you want?”

“If you want to give me something, I’ll take it.”

“Okay.”

Seokju agreed without hesitation. Ajin bit his lower lip. He gazed intently at Seokju’s red lips hidden by the white veil of his skin. Then, with a voice that had no bottom, Ajin called Seokju.

“Master.”

“Yes?”

“Do you do this to others as well?”

“What?”

“Apologize for a mistake and follow them around?”

“Mistake?”

“Yes.”

Seokju’s eyebrow twitched slightly. Mistake. It’s fortunate that he thinks so lightly of ‘that day,’ but it didn’t sit well with him. Was there someone else who had done the same ‘mistake’ that I made? Is that why he’s so nonchalant about it? That thought made him angry.

He slowly turned his head to the side.

“Not like that.”

“But why do you do it to me? Even someone… who can kill with a single blow… apologizing for just a night… and for several days…”

“You’re pretty.”

“….”

It was an unexpected statement. Ajin made a surprised face. Seokju gazed intently at Ajin’s lips, which had turned a deep red from his intense biting. Then, Ajin called Seokju with a voice as deep as the abyss.

“Is the master blind?”

“What did you say?”

Seokju let out a muffled breath from his throat. It was a perplexing statement. Normally, when someone uses the term “blind,” it’s either an insult or used mockingly. Ajin seemed to be using it in the sense of questioning if Seokju had problems with his eyes.

“I’m asking, why are you doing this to me? I’m a man. You’ve even touched my ‘hot pepper.'”

“….”

“Why are you calling me pretty? You don’t call a man ‘pretty.'”

Ajin grumbled with his cherry-like lips. Seokju chuckled softly. Did Ajin know? That he was more irritated now than when I had followed him all night on that day.

Seokju propped his noble legs on his own lap, looking at Ajin.

“Fine. If you don’t want to hear it, I won’t do it.”

“And don’t apologize anymore. You’ve received money and more apologies.”

“Why?”

“You keep coming back. Please don’t come.”

“You don’t like me coming?”

“Yes.”

Ajin responded coolly.

“….”

Seokju’s mouth hung open in slight surprise. It was the first time someone had openly shown such strong dislike towards him. They weren’t members of his organization, nor were they servants working in his house. They were just common people, but they despised him to this extent.

Seokju let out a bitter laugh, and Ajin got up. He gathered the mop neatly into both hands, then gave a polite nod. His hair fluttered, and then it returned to its original position.

“I’ll go then. Please come a bit late for dinner. The kitchen isn’t ready yet.”

Ajin informed him with a fearless tone, then walked past Seokju without a second glance. Seokju watched him walk away as he tapped his heels on the floor. Then, in a gentle, soothing voice, he called him.

“Ajin.”

“….”

Ajin’s steps abruptly halted. He quickly turned around. His eyes and mouth were round, as if he were greatly surprised that Seokju had called his name.

It was understandable. Except for the flower lady and a few female servants, everyone had called him a bastard, cripple, or something else. The members of his organization called him boss, sir, and so on.

Ajin returned to Seokju and stared at him fearlessly, asking, “How do you know my name?”

Seokju smiled, raising the corner of his mouth. He seemed to have no intention of answering. Ajin frowned slightly. Seokju gently wrapped his wrist, making Ajin squirm.

“Let’s sleep.”

Ajin gasped at his words. It was as shocking as when he was called by his name.

“What?”

“Let’s sleep.”

Seokju said it again. Ajin blinked. Then, he tried to shake Seokju’s hand off his wrist. But Seokju didn’t let go. The more he struggled to get away, the stronger Seokju’s grip became. Ajin was the first to give up. He slumped down in front of Seokju. His knees, twisted and not folding properly, stretched out to the other side.

Ajin let out a deep sigh.

“I don’t want to. If I sleep with you again, they’ll make fun of me.”

Upon hearing that, Seokju chuckled. Not the resentful insults like crazy, bastard, or lunatic, but a reaction that was completely different from what he expected. It was cute. He reached under Ajin’s unruly hair, stroking his earlobe that peeked out, and asked.

“Who?”

“Just… people…”

“Then, if I kill everyone who makes fun of you, that’s it, right?”

“No!”

Ajin glared at Seokju with widened eyes. There are only a few people who are able to face the world with their heads held high. They must not die. Otherwise, I’ll truly be alone.